New skyteam partners??

[JS50557]

The chief executive of Delta Air Lines Inc. said the SkyTeam alliance of global carriers would be willing to invest more than its proposed $1.02 billion into struggling Japan Airlines Corp. as it tries to forge a trans-Pacific partnership.

Delta CEO Richard Anderson, above, and his SkyTeam partners are trying to persuade Japan Airlines to defect from the Oneworld airline alliance.
The final proposed investment into JAL by the nine-airline SkyTeam alliance could be "greater than what we've stated" thus far, Richard Anderson said in an interview Friday.

"When you get that value, it can be financeable. You create a lot more value, and together parties can figure out how to monetize that value," Mr. Anderson said.

Atlanta-based Delta and its SkyTeam partners are trying to persuade the Japanese carrier to defect from the rival Oneworld alliance of airlines to expand their share of the lucrative travel markets in Japan and Asia.

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, a member of Oneworld, has said it and private-equity partner TPG also are willing to inject an undisclosed amount of money into JAL, which is undergoing a restructuring after several quarters of losses.

Delta, the world's largest carrier by traffic, said this week it was prepared to inject $500 million into JAL from SkyTeam in addition to a $300 million revenue guarantee, $200 million in asset-backed funding and $20 million or more in transition costs if JAL agrees to switch to SkyTeam.

"This is the first top-line revenue opportunity that has been presented to JAL," Mr. Anderson said.

The restructuring of JAL is seen as the first big test of the new Japanese government's willingness to take a hard line with "zombie" companies weighed down by billions of dollars in debt. Since the Democratic Party of Japan took power two months ago, it has focused on restructuring JAL, which is bogged down by over one trillion yen ($11.24 billion) in net debt and legacy pension costs.

Both Delta and American see this move as an opportunity to invest in JAL, a former flag carrier that has long been protected by the state and known for its proud and insular culture.

Mr. Anderson said that neither Delta nor its SkyTeam partners are interested in a board seat or management representation at JAL. "We don't need to manage anybody. We don't want to and don't expect to,'' he said.

The Delta CEO said SkyTeam was unlikely to link up with a private-equity group as it tries to woo JAL. "We have had many inquiries from other third parties that would be interested," said Mr. Anderson. Nonetheless, he added, "we're focused on a SkyTeam strategic investment."

The Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp, the government-led body that is leading JAL's rehabilitation efforts, is expected to complete its due diligence on the carrier in January.

Mr. Anderson said Friday that Delta would be willing to step in to aid JAL even before this process in finished. "We are ready, willing and able to participate at the right time," he added.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 64076.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RCV]

For the last couple of years, several potential members join the rumours of joining the Skyteam alliance.

MEA was clearly connected to skyteam for a potential associate member. But after the war between Israel and Lebanon no progress has been made.

Several other members were talked about:

Uzbekistan airlines - sponsored by Korean air
http://www.boarding.no/art.asp?id=33453" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Olympic air - Openly flirting with Delta and AF-KLM
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/09 ... 98346.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MAS - sponsored by KLM - still pending

China Airlines
http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=11385" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Air Tahiti NUI - sponsored by Air France

Avianca was rumoured. But with the recent merger with Taca, nothing has been made clear, as lufthansa is linked with TACA.

WEST Jet - New Canadian Partner of AF - KLM. Becoming a full frills airline.

Garuda
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... yteam.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Nothing is certain in aviation!

[RCV]

New developments in Skyteam's partnersearch...

http://www.eturbonews.com/12992/skyteam ... orces-asia" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SPL]

Not much new news I guess? Thay talk about Vietnam Airlines, Garuda and Japan Airlines and that was known allready.
Maybe the fact that searching an Indian partner is abandoned temporary is the most interesting.


Groeten Martijn

[Boudewijn van Oirschot]

Below a Dutch article about airlines which are not in any alliance yet.

http://www.luchtvaartnieuws.nl/news/?ID=33239" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A short translation:
Belonging to an alliance lately seems to become more and more important in aviation.
Who cannot get connected with any alliance would be isolated in aviation which makes it difficult to compete with alliance airlines.

Only airlines with any international worthy are mentioned in the article so low cost carriers and 'impossible' airlines like Cubana, Air Koryo and Iranair are skipped.

[joostvandeelen]

begin van een mogelijk alliiantiepartner voor de toekomst?

Bron luchtvaartnieuws.nl

KLM start codeshare-samenwerking met Braziliaans Gol

20-01-2010

AMSTELVEEN - KLM heeft een codeshare-overeenkomst gesloten met de Braziliaanse low cost carrier Gol Linhas Aéreas. Hierbij plaatst KLM zijn vluchtnummer op binnenlandse en regionale vluchten die door Gol worden uitgevoerd vanaf de internationale luchthaven Guarulhos bij Sao Paulo. Air France-KLM sloot vorig jaar al een commerciële overeenkomst met Gol.


Ook Air France breidt de samenwerking met Gol uit, waardoor het zes nieuwe Braziliaanse bestemmingen kan toevoegen aan het netwerk. Later volgen nog zeven andere.

Gol is binnen enkele jaren uitgegroeid van een kleine low cost carrier tot één van de grootste luchtvaartmaatschappijen van Zuid-Amerika. Het routenetwerk omvat 49 bestemmingen in binnen- en buitenland.

[phkza]

Don't think so. GOL (and also WestJet) is a low cost carrier. Part of being in an alliance is uniformity in things as service. I don't think GOL would want to completely change its product to be in an alliance. But maybe they can come up with a alliance partner in the way that Star Alliance used to have regional members...

[ehusmann]

GOL will be at one point. It is the best partner you can have in South America in terms of expanding your network. Although GOL started as a pure low cost airlines, it has grown beyond that already and will develop more in the future. Maybe not tomorrow, but in a few years GOL will most probably be part of Skyteam.

Erwin

[XYZ]

Not yet SKYTEAM, but certainly new cooperation for KLM:

KLM / Bangkok Airways launch codesharing on 19 April 2010.

KLM effective immediately launches codeshare service with Bangkok Airways, giving KLM access to Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Phuket, Sukhothai and Trat. Codeshare routes and flight numbers (subject to change) as follows:

ROUTE - KL Codeshare - PG Operating
Bangkok – Chiang Mai - KL3735 - PG221
Chiang Mai – Bangkok - KL3734 - PG222
Bangkok – Koh Samui - KL3733 - PG961
Koh Samui – Bangkok - KL3740 - PG186
Bangkok – Phuket - KL3731 - PG273
Phuket – Bangkok - KL3730 - PG278
Bangkok – Sukhothai - KL3739 - PG213
Sukhothai – Bangkok - KL3738 - PG214
Bangkok – Trat - KL3737 - PG307
Trat – Bangkok - KL3736 - PG308
Hong Kong – Koh Samui – Bangkok - KL3732 - PG806
Singapore – Koh Samui - KL3741 - PG962
Koh Samui – Singapore - KL3733 - PG961

[Boudewijn van Oirschot]

Not really a totally unexpected surprise but China eastern Airlines MU/CES has announced an initial agreement to join Skyteam soon.
As of January 2010 China Eastern has codeshare agreements with CZ, AF, AM and KE (all full Skyteam members)
It is a bit weird but they have the same agreements with Oneworld and Star Alliance members like American Airlines (OW) and All Nippon Airlines (SA)

There are still rumours about Vietnam Airlines, TAROM and Middle East Airlines.

[RCV]

Not really a totally unexpected surprise but China eastern Airlines MU/CES has announced an initial agreement to join Skyteam soon.
As of January 2010 China Eastern has codeshare agreements with CZ, AF, AM and KE (all full Skyteam members)
It is a bit weird but they have the same agreements with Oneworld and Star Alliance members like American Airlines (OW) and All Nippon Airlines (SA)

There are still rumours about Vietnam Airlines, TAROM and Middle East Airlines.

Concerning VN and RO, maybe the following may convert the "rumours" to facts:

(7th paragraph)

http://skyteam.com/news/headlines/20100416.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RCV

[Boudewijn van Oirschot]

Vietnam Airlines will join Skyteam on June 10th after a ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnams capital.
On June 25th, TAROM will also be a part of Skyteam.

Source: Luchtvaartnieuws.nl (article in Dutch)

[Starbucks]

V Australia and Skyteam????

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/wings ... um=twitter (second paragraph)

Disregard, they're talking about trans-pacific joint ventures.....